Astronaut Victor Glover blasted off to the International Space Station in SpaceX’s Resilience this last week, but he wanted to make sure God’s Word came with him.<\/p>\n
Glover, a Christian, took communion cups and a Bible with him and plans to utilize the internet connection aboard the craft to access faith-based programs. The 44-year-old said in a video interview with the Churches of Christ-associated newspaper Christian Chronicle last week that he also plans to participate in \u201cvirtual service\u201d and \u201cvirtual giving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Glover arrived at the ISS with the three other crew members onboard the first commercially developed space vehicle certified by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration to ferry astronauts up to low-Earth orbit and back again. The crew will stay at the space station until the spring.<\/p>\n
Glover is also the first African American astronaut to go on a long-term mission. Glover\u2019s making his first space journey after serving as a Navy F\/A-18 carrier pilot who flew combat missions in Iraq. He also previously served as a legislative aide to the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., himself a naval aviator.<\/p>\n